Sarasota PC Users Group

SIG Notes for July 2009
by Valerie Barnes, okbyvalerie@aol.com

Please visit the calendar page of the SPCUG website <www.spcug.org> for the most up-to-date information.

General Information
Special Interest Groups (SIG) are our bread and butter. Our main mission at SPCUG is to enhance your overall computer experience. We accomplish this through our classes or what we call SIGs. SIGs are comprised of a leader or leaders and students. The class is structured and may span several sessions in order to cover the specific topic. Due to limited space, pre-registration is sometimes but not always required for our SIGs. As a courtesy to fellow members of SPCUG we ask that you please attend all class sessions. If you register and don’t attend, you have prevented another member from attending since the seat was reserved for you. If you cannot complete a particular class, kindly e-mail or call the SIG leader so that another member can be asked to attend in your absence.

Some of our members prefer a less structured type of class. If you have just have a couple of questions or issues about a particular program try out one of our forums. These are less structured than the SIGs and are more of a round table discussion group. Participation by everyone attending our forums is highly encouraged.

If you are an active member and happen to see someone sporting a "visitor" badge, please extend a warm greeting and thank him or her for taking time to visit us.

Changes in SIG Class Schedules
New SIGs continue to start as leaders are found. New SIGs are posted on the SPCUG website as they become available.

REGISTRATION FOR SIGs
On general meeting nights the SIG table will register members for Getting Started, Basic 1, and Basic 2, ONLY.

Registration for all other SIGs is by e-mail only, directly to the SIG leader. Class schedules and SIG leader contacts are updated in the Monitor every month. If you are unfamiliar with accessing the web; don’t know how to send e-mails; or don’t have a computer, call the SIG leader. SIG leader phone numbers are listed on page 3 of the PC Monitor.

The easiest way to register for a course is to use the SPCUG website. It assures you of having the most up-to-date information. To do so:

  1. Go to www.spcug.org

  2. At the SPCUG home page, click on the word "Calendar" at the top of the home page. It is in red lettering among a group of other words (actually links), that are in blue.

  3. The calendar will open in the current month. If you want to go to a different month use the "Navigation" bar along either the top or bottom of "Calendar" page, and click on the month and year you want.

  4. Once you’ve found the course that you think you want by the course name, single click on the course name and pop up will provide you with all the details regarding the course.

  5. If the course is not what you want "X" out and continue looking. If the course is what you want, at the bottom of the pop up, click on "To Register Click Here" and an e-mail registration, preaddressed to the correct SIG leader will open.

  6. In the e-mail enter your name, phone number, SPCUG number, and e-mail address. (Please make sure to provide ALL the information). Click on "Send".

  7. You’re registered and will receive a confirmation from the SIG leader.

Because of limited space and seating, please do not just "show up" at a SIG without pre-registering. Doing so only creates a difficult situation for SIG leaders and for members who have registered properly.

Attending SIGs
You must be an active member of SPCUG to attend our SIGs. There are no extra fees for attending SIGs; the fee for attending SIGs is included in your annual dues. Attendance at the first class is mandatory and if you cannot attend please advise the SIG leader so another student can take your place. Most of our SIGs have a waiting list. If you are a "no show" you will be precluded from registering for future classes until all other students have the opportunity to register. Proof of current membership and photo I.D. is required to enter each SIG session. All SIGs and forums held on General Meeting nights require that you wear the color-coded, self adhesive name badge issued at the badge table in the main general meeting hall.

Visitors are welcome to attend all SIGs on the General Meeting Night, but they must also wear a "Visitors Badge" obtainable at the Badge Table.

Entering Classrooms and Campus Rules.
To ensure that SPCUG members do not inadvertently disrupt the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI) classes in progress, SCTI has requested that SPCUG members refrain from entering SIG course classrooms until the class in session is dismissed. Please note that we must respect both SCTI as well as Sarasota Middle School regulations, including security rules, fire laws, no smoking areas, and all requests from the custodian. Please park only in non-reserved areas.

Leaders Wanted
Do you have a favorite PC application, software program or hardware peripheral you would like to demonstrate and teach in a SIG or at a Forum? This could be a one time (or more) forum or SIG offered by you for other members with similar interests. It’s a great way for members to help members and share a learning experience together. To help you, we have classroom space available and assistants. Our group is always seeking new SIG Leaders as well as assistants, and we appreciate your involvement. If you want to help, please contact Dr. Bob Thommes, e-mail: <thommes@spcug.org>, Phone: 923-6399

The following Forums are open to members and visitors. They require no registration; however, you need to wear your member badge or obtain a "Visitors Badge" obtainable at the Badge Table before entering.

Open Office Forum - Room 625
5:15 - 6:00p July 1 and Aug. 5

There will be some instruction on Open Office but the bulk of the forum will be hands on problem solving and question and answer sessions. We’ll cover compatibility with MS Office and review word processing, spreadsheets and slide presentations. If there is interest we can look at data bases and other portions of Open Office.

Leader: Mike Hutchinson
E-mail: <mph@mailmt.com>

Windows Vista for Beginners - Room 626
5:15 - 6:15p July 1 and Aug. 5

A Forum designed with the Novice computer user in mind. Making Vista do what you want it to do without frustration.

Leader: Bill Crowe
E-mail: <wtcrowe@verizon.net>
Phone: 921-6885

Photoshop "Wizards" - Room 624
5:15 - 6:55 July 1 and Aug. 5

A Forum that is limited to members who are actively using Adobe Photoshop to process their digital images. Attendees are expected to participate and be able to share their insights and Photoshop techniques with their fellow Forum members. The Moderator will reserve the right to maintain a high level of discussion i.e. "rule" that some questions are out of order or are more appropriate to be asked in another SIG or Forum and thus not be addressed. Topics will vary from meeting to meeting.

Leader: Mike McNaughton
E-mail: <mikemcn@worldnet.att.net>

The Database Forum - Room 314 - Teachers Lounge
5:15 - 7:00p July 1 and Aug. 5

Using free on-line services to evaluate trends in company stock. Focus for April will be review of www.stockcharts.com and www.nasdaq.com. 

Leader: Bob Young, Ph.D.
E-mail: <ryoung19@tampabay.rr.com>
Phone: 941-725-0761

Digital Photography for Beginners/Intermediates Forum Room 303

5:30 - 6:55p July 1 and Aug. 5

This forum covers all aspects of digital photography including cameras, printers, image enhancement and associated hardware and software. Bring your camera and photos for help with common problems. Learn how to make and display good pictures.

Leader: Chuck Mason
E-mail: <mason@spcug.org>
Phone: 484-8127

Tech Support Forum - Room 314 - Auditorium
5:55 - 6:55p July 1 and Aug. 5

Discover your computer...from Novice to Expert. Ask and learn all of the things you need to know. This is a class and an open question forum. Anyone can attend, no need to reserve a seat.

Leader: Adam J. Richter M.S.
E-mail: <simple818@gmail.com>
Phone: 720-7950

Windows - Room 627
5:55 - 8:00p July 1 and Aug. 5

This forum deals with all versions of Windows except VISTA. There will be some instruction but the forum is principally question, answer and problem-solving. Windows components such as Outlook Express, Media Player, WordPad, Control Panel are explored and explained.

Leader: Dr. Dean Ewalt and Marshall Dubois
E-mail: <drdean@pobox.com>
Phone: 364-8900

New Member Orientation and Computer Help - Room 625
6:00 - 6:55p July 1 and Aug. 5

If you are a new member or just a visitor and want to see what SPCUG is all about, this is where you can find your answers. We’ll tell you all about the classes that SPCUG gives and how you can enroll at no cost, other than being a member of SPCUG. The leaders for this alternate each month.

Leader: Alternates each month

Web Page Forum - Room 314 - Teachers Lounge
7:00 - 8:00p July 1 and Aug. 5

This forum will address issues regarding the design of web pages for those people who are already familiar with web page design. Discussion will center on Microsoft Front Page as the editor.

Leader: Gene Mathes
E-mail: <mathes@orangeacres.net>
Phone: 927-2707

Photoshop Elements - Room 301
7:00 - 8:00p July 1 and Aug. 5

A Forum style session that will answer your Photoshop Elements questions. Techniques, Tips and Tricks will also be featured.

Leader: Chris Hanrahan
E-mail: <chinfl@comcast.net>

Computer "Geek" Forum - Room 624
7:00 - 8:00p July 1 and Aug. 5

A smorgasbord of topics including Windows Vista, Windows XP, hardware and software issues.

Leaders: Jim Unger, John Chait, Vinny LaBash, Bob Toal and Greg Rappaport
Group Contact: Jim Unger
E-mail: <jim_28_11@comcast.net>

PC Refurbishing Project

This is for the person who comprehends things of a technical nature and is interested in community service. The goal of the project is to refurbish donated computers and give them to Sarasota County not-for-profit organizations and to residents who need a computer but cannot afford one. Interested members will be invited to our workshop to observe what we do. When training classes are to begin, interested members will be e-mailed the time and location of the training. Some of the learning is self-directed and you will be expected to refurbish computers in your home. It is necessary for you to be a self-starter, and eventually contribute to others in the Project as well as the community. E-Mail your request to Visit the Refurbishing Workshop to:

Contact: Dave Winkelman
E-mail: <supermodified@comcast.net> 

No Saturday SIGs are scheduled for June, July, or August this year because the Boys and Girls Club facility is not available to us. Watch the August Monitor for information on September classes.

Return to previous page